JP2863074B2 - Anti-fog mirror - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an anti-fog mirror capable of displaying a predetermined pattern on a mirror which is fogged by water drops.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a display section is provided on the surface of a mirror installed in a high humidity place, such as a bathroom or a sink, and characters, figures, pictures, and the like for advertisement or decoration are painted on the display section. 2. Description of the Related Art Mirrors with a display unit drawn by using such a method are widely known. However, in the above-described conventional mirror with a display unit, characters, figures, pictures, and the like are drawn on the display unit provided on the surface of the mirror by paint or the like, so that the display unit loses its function as a mirror. That is, when the display unit is provided on the surface of the mirror, there is a problem that the area which can be actually used as the mirror is reduced.

Accordingly, the present applicant has disclosed a mirror having a display portion having a display portion on the surface of the mirror and capable of displaying a predetermined symbol on a mirror which is clouded by water droplets, and having a shape substantially equal to the shape of the symbol. A heat transfer plate having a part formed on the surface, a heating element made of a positive temperature coefficient thermistor is provided inside, and a heater entirely covered with an electrically insulating coating material is provided. A mirror with a display having a configuration in which a heat transfer plate is provided in close contact with the heater and fixed to the back of the heat transfer plate has been proposed (Japanese Utility Model Application No. 5-39529).

[0004]

According to this mirror with a display portion, the heat generated by the heater corresponds to the portion of the display portion where the convex portion of the heat transfer plate is in close contact via the heat transfer plate. Transmitted only to the site, the display unit, while retaining the function as a mirror, fogging is eliminated in a shape equal to the shape of the convex part of the heat transfer plate, and the above symbol can be displayed against the background of fogging due to water droplets, Symbols can be displayed on the surface of the mirror without reducing the area that can be used as a mirror, and the user of the mirror can be repeatedly called out. However, the display displayed on the display unit is limited to a predetermined symbol having the same shape as the convex portion of the heat transfer plate.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an anti-fog mirror according to the present invention eliminates fogging on a mirror fogged by water droplets due to dew condensation into a shape substantially equal to a predetermined pattern, and removes fogging. A fogging mirror in which a design is displayed as a background, and a heat transfer plate having a planar shape substantially equal to the shape of the design,
A heater having a heating element made of a positive temperature coefficient thermistor therein, and a heater entirely covered with an electrically insulating coating material, wherein the heat transfer plate is provided in close contact with the back surface of the mirror; Is provided with the above-mentioned heater on the back surface.

[0006]

According to the above construction, the heater having a heating element made of a positive temperature coefficient thermistor therein and entirely covered with an electrically insulating coating material, quickly rises in temperature to a predetermined temperature after energization. When the temperature is reached, it will be maintained. On the other hand, the heat transfer plate provided in close contact with the back of the mirror
The planar shape has a shape substantially equal to the shape of the design, and the heater is fixed in close contact with the back surface of the heat transfer plate. Therefore, the heat generated by the heater is transmitted only to the heat transfer plate having a plane shape substantially equal to the design. That is, the mirror is heated only at the portion where the heat transfer plate having a shape substantially equal to the shape of the symbol is in contact.

Therefore, in the mirror fogged by the water droplets, only the portion of the heat transfer plate to which the heat generated by the heater is transmitted is heated to evaporate the water droplets, and the fogging is eliminated, but the above heat is not transmitted. Since the part cannot be warmed, water droplets remain and remain cloudy. Therefore, fogging of only the heat transfer plate portion having the same planar shape as the shape of the symbol is eliminated,
A design corresponding to the shape of the heat transfer plate is displayed against the background of clouding due to water droplets. Further, the mirror does not display a symbol when, for example, the heater is not energized. This makes it possible to display the design while retaining the function as a mirror. That is, a pattern can be displayed on the surface of the mirror against the background of fogging without reducing the area that can be used as a mirror.

Further, according to the above-described structure, at first glance, a mirror that has no danger can draw the attention of the user of the repetitive mirror due to the unexpectedness of displaying a design when the mirror is clouded by water droplets. . Further, for example, when a symbol is provided for advertisement, the effect of the advertisement can be enhanced.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a mirror with a design according to the present embodiment is located at a predetermined position on a rectangular mirror 1, for example, at a central portion on the back surface of the mirror 1 at a predetermined position on the surface of the mirror 1. A heat transfer plate 2 having a planar shape substantially equal to the shape of a dinosaur (here, stegosaurus) is provided in close contact with the dinosaur (here, stegosaurus) in order to display a symbol by an anti-fog function as described later. The heat transfer plate 2 is made of a metal having excellent heat conductivity, for example, copper, phosphor bronze, aluminum, stainless steel, etc., in order to provide a heat transfer function. A plurality of heaters 4 are attached to the back of the heat transfer plate 2 at predetermined intervals. The heaters 4 are attached to the heat transfer plate 2 by bonding them with an adhesive or the like, and one surface of the heater 4 is in close contact with the back surface of the heat transfer plate 2.

The thickness of the heat transfer plate 2 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, about 3 to 4 mm so that the mirror 1 can be installed on a wall or the like. The thickness of the mirror 1 is not particularly limited, but may be about 5 mm so that a predetermined pattern can be clearly displayed on the display unit 1a as described later. Further, the sizes of the mirror 1 and the display unit 1a are not particularly limited as long as the symbols can be clearly displayed.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the heater 4 includes a heating element 5, metal terminals 8.8, lead wires 9.9 serving as power supply lines, and an insulating material formed of an electrically insulating coating material. The case 10 is configured.

The heating element 5 has a positive temperature coefficient (Positive Tempe
(rature Coefficient), for example, a ceramic semiconductor made mainly of barium titanate or the like,
Although it has a low resistance from room temperature to the Curie temperature Tc (rapid temperature change), it is a positive temperature coefficient thermistor as a thermosensitive element having a characteristic that the resistance value sharply increases when the Curie temperature Tc is exceeded. Due to this characteristic, when a voltage is applied, the heating element 5 initially has a low resistance value and a large current flows due to a low temperature, and as a result, the temperature rises rapidly,
When the temperature exceeds the Curie temperature Tc, the resistance value sharply increases, so that the temperature does not rise above a certain temperature and the temperature is kept stable. That is, the heating element 5 can have a self-temperature control function. Therefore, the heater 4
Has low power consumption, can omit a temperature control circuit and an overheat prevention circuit, and can be downsized. In addition, there is no fear of ignition or the like due to local overheating, and no noise or the like is generated.

The heating element 5 can be arbitrarily set to have a Curie temperature Tc in the range of about 30 to 250 ° C. depending on the material composition. Therefore, in the heating element 5 according to the present embodiment, for example, safety and power saving are taken into consideration so that an effective temperature for displaying a design by giving an anti-fog function to the surface of the mirror 1 can be realized. The Curie temperature Tc may be set.

The heating element 5 has a flat disk shape.
As shown in FIG. 4, electrodes 5a are formed on the upper and lower surfaces by applying, for example, a silver paint.

The metal terminal 8 has a circular flat plate shape having a diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the heating element 5. Each metal terminal 8 is provided with a power supply portion 8a for connecting a lead wire 9. These power supply portions 8a are parallel to each other and extend in the introduction direction of the corresponding lead wires 9.

The electrical connection between the heating element 5 and the metal terminals 8.8 is performed by attaching the electrode 5a of the heating element 5 and the metal terminal 8 with a conductive adhesive of, for example, an epoxy resin / silver mixture. Is being done. In addition, the power supply sections 8a
The electrical connection with 9 is made by, for example, soldering the corresponding lead wire 9 to the opposing surface side of the power supply portions 8a.

The insulating case 10 includes an insulating case lower part 10a as a covering base and an insulating case upper part 10b. The insulating case 10 covers and seals the heating element 5 and the metal terminals 8.8. Further, the insulating case 10 is provided with a terminal portion of the lead wire 9.9 on the metal terminal 8 side so that a mechanical load is not applied to a soldered portion between the lead wire 9 and the power supply portion 8a of the metal terminal 8 to cause disconnection. Is also covered.

The above-mentioned insulating case 10 accommodates the heating element 5 and the like in an insulating case lower part 10a formed in advance by injection molding or the like, and is installed in an injection molding die (not shown). By injecting and molding the plastic to be a part, the insulating case lower part 10a and the insulating case upper part 10b are integrally formed. Thus, the heating element 5 and the like are sealed and fixed inside the insulating case 10.

The insulating case 10 has a small heat shrinkage rate, is excellent in heat conductivity and mechanical strength, has heat resistance enough to withstand the heat generation temperature of the heating element 5, waterproofness which does not allow moisture such as water vapor to pass through, and air. It is necessary to have airtightness that does not pass through the inside and to have good adhesion to the coating material of the lead wire 9. For example, the lead wire 9 is formed of a polymer alloy made of polyamide, polypropylene, and glass fiber. ing.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lead wires 9 connected to each heater 4 are connected to the junction member 1.
2 are connected to a power cord 13 having a plug (not shown) at the tip and the like, and are electrically connected to an outlet (not shown) as an external power source through the power cord 13. . Therefore, the heaters 4 are connected in parallel with each other. In addition, the junction members 12 ...
Are attached to the back of the heat transfer plate 2 with an adhesive or the like.

The fixing tool 1 made of metal or synthetic resin so that the lead wires 9 and the power cord 13 are not loosened.
4 are fixed to the back of the mirror 1. The fixtures 14 are attached to the back surface of the mirror 1 by attaching them with an adhesive or the like.

In the heater 4 described above, the metal terminals 8
The lead wires 9 are respectively provided on the opposing surfaces of the power feeding portions 8a.
The connection of the lead wires 9 does not cause irregularities due to the connection of the lead wires 9. Therefore, the thickness of the insulating case 10 for absorbing the unevenness is set.
, The insulating case 10, that is, the heater 4 can be formed thin. Thus, the heater 4 can be reduced in size, thickness, and weight, can be mounted on the rear side of the mirror 1, and can efficiently transmit the heat generated by the heating element 5 to the heat transfer plate 2. it can. The heaters 4 are manually turned on by a switch (not shown).
/ OFF.

First, when the humidity rises, for example, by using a shower, and fine water droplets adhere to the surface of the mirror 1, the entire surface of the mirror 1 becomes cloudy. At this time, the heaters 4 are not energized, and nothing is displayed on the mirror 1 surface.

In this state, a switch (not shown) is turned on.
When the power supply to the heaters 4 is started, the heater 4 uses the heating element 5 composed of a positive temperature coefficient thermistor as a heat generating means. Will keep the temperature. Therefore,
Heat generated by the heaters 4 provided on the back surface of the heat transfer plate 2 is transmitted to the surface of the mirror 1 via the heat transfer plate 2.

When energization of the heaters 4 is further continued, as shown in FIG. 5, the portion of the surface of the mirror 1 where the heat transfer plate 2 is in contact is warmed, water droplets are evaporated, and fogging is eliminated (prevention of fogging). Fogging function). On the other hand, a portion of the surface of the mirror 1 to which the heat generated by the heaters 4 is not transferred is not warmed and does not rise in temperature, so that water droplets remain and remain cloudy.

Therefore, the heat transfer plate contact portion on the surface of the mirror 1
As shown in FIG. 5, a predetermined symbol is displayed with cloudy background. For example, a face or the like can be clearly displayed in the symbol displayed after the cloudiness has been eliminated.

It should be noted that after the power supply to the heaters 4 is started,
The time until the mirror 1 clearly displays the symbol can be arbitrarily set by changing the Curie temperature Tc of the heating element 5, but in order to make the symbol more effective, the heat diffusion and the like are considered. It is preferable that the length be shorter, for example, about 2 minutes.

Further, according to the above-described configuration, the mirror 1 which is seemingly no stranger can draw the attention of the user of the mirror 1 repeatedly due to the unexpectedness of displaying a design when the mirror is clouded by water drops. it can. Thereby, for example, when a symbol is provided for advertisement, the advertisement effect can be enhanced.

In the above embodiment, a dinosaur picture was described as an example of a displayed symbol, but the displayed symbol is, of course, not limited to the above symbol. Also,
In the above embodiment, the number of heaters 4 fixed to the heat transfer plate 2 and the arrangement of the heaters 4 may be appropriately changed according to the size of the heat transfer plate 2 and the like. And the heater 4
The shape of the heating element 5 is not limited to the above flat disk shape or circular flat plate shape, but may be various shapes such as a square plate shape.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the heater 4 having one heating element 5 inside is used has been described as an example, but the number of the heating elements 5 inside the heater is one. The present invention is not limited to this, and may be plural. In this case, the number of heating elements 5 provided inside the heater is
What is necessary is just to change suitably according to the size of the mirror 1, etc. When a heater having a plurality of heating elements 5 is used, the number of the lead wires 9 is reduced, so that the connection of the lead wires 9 by the junction members 12 becomes easy, and the heater is connected to the heat transfer plate 2. Installation is also simplified. The heating elements 5 provided inside the heater may be electrically connected to each other in parallel with each other by, for example, a pair of metal terminals.

Further, in the above embodiment, the planar shape of the heat transfer plate 2 is stegosaurus, but the shape of the heat transfer plate 2 is
Of course, the shape is not limited to the stegosaurus and can be various shapes such as other dinosaurs and animals.
Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the heater 4 is formed in a flat disk shape is described as an example.
The shape of the heater 4 is not limited to the above-described embodiment as long as the heat generated in the above can be efficiently transmitted to the heat transfer plate 2, and may be, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0033]

As described above, the anti-fog mirror according to the present invention has a heat transfer plate having a shape substantially equal to the shape of a design and a heating element made of a positive temperature coefficient thermistor therein, and has an overall electrically insulating property. And a heater coated with a coating material, wherein the heat transfer plate is provided in close contact with the back surface of the mirror, and the heater is provided on the back surface of the heat transfer plate.

For this reason, the heat generated by the heater is transmitted via the heat transfer plate only to the mirror surface portion corresponding to the portion where the heat transfer plate having a shape substantially equal to the shape of the symbol is in close contact. Therefore, the mirror that has become cloudy due to the water droplets is heated only at the part where the heat generated by the heater is transferred, where the heat transfer plate abuts, and the water droplets evaporate, and the fogging has a shape corresponding to the shape of the heat transfer plate. On the other hand, the portion where the heat is not transferred is not heated, so that water droplets remain and the cloudy state is maintained. As a result, the above-mentioned design is displayed on the background of cloudiness due to water droplets. It should be noted that no symbol is displayed on the mirror when, for example, the heater is not energized.
This makes it possible to display the design while maintaining the function of the design as a mirror. That is, there is an effect that the design can be displayed on the surface of the mirror without reducing the area that can be used as the mirror.

Further, according to the above-described structure, at first glance, a mirror that has no danger can draw the attention of the user of the mirror due to the unexpectedness of displaying a design when it becomes clouded by water droplets. . Accordingly, for example, when a symbol is provided for advertisement, the effect of increasing the advertisement effect can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rear view of an anti-fog mirror according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a right side view of the anti-fog mirror.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing a heater of the anti-fog mirror in a partial cross section.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an internal configuration of the heater.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state where a symbol (stegosaurus) is clearly displayed on the anti-fog mirror.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mirror 1a Display part 2 Heat transfer plate 4 Heater 5 Heating element 9 Lead wire 10 Insulation case (electrically insulating coating material) 12 Junction member 14 Fixture

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (56) References Japanese Utility Model 7-9170 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 5-82350 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 5-7170 (JP, U) (58) Survey Field (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A47G 1/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An anti-fog mirror capable of displaying a predetermined design on a mirror which is clouded by water droplets on a background of cloudiness, comprising a heat transfer plate having a plane shape substantially equal to the shape of the design, and a PTC thermistor. And a heater entirely covered with an electrically insulating coating material. The heat transfer plate is provided in close contact with the back surface of the mirror, and the heat transfer plate is further provided on the back surface of the heat transfer plate. An anti-fog mirror comprising a heater.